CEE Distinguished Professor Receives Honorary Professorship

Soroosh Sorooshian named honorary professor of Beijing Normal University

Soroosh Sorooshian, Ph.D., distinguished professor of civil and environmental engineering and Earth system science, was named an honorary professor at Beijing Normal University. Sorooshian was honored for his contributions to hydrometeorology and hydroclimatology and water resources engineering.

He was also elected as an Associate Fellow of TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world, at the 21st General Meeting of TWAS, held in Hyderabad, India, on Oct. 19. Associate Fellows are scientists who live and work in developed countries, have made contributions to their fields of science that meet internationally accepted standards of excellence, and, have distinguished themselves in efforts to promote science in developing countries.

On December 5, Sorooshian will also receive the 4th Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water Resources Management and Protection at an event will coincide with the opening ceremony of the 4th International Conference on Water Resources and Dry Environment 2010. The prize was established to acknowledge exceptional and innovative scientific work that contributes to the sustainable availability of potable water and the alleviation of water scarcity, particularly in arid regions.

Sorooshian’s areas of expertise include hydrometeorology, water resources systems, climate studies and application of remote sensing to earth science problems, with special focus on the hydrologic cycle and water resources issues. His other research interests include the study of the implications of climate variability and change in regional water resources in arid and semi-arid zones. He also consults on problems related to surface hydrology and urban flooding.

Sorooshian is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the International Academy of Astronautics; a recipient of the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Geophysical Union (AGU), American Meteorological Society, and International Water Resources Association. He is a past chair of the Science Steering Group of Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment of the World Climate Research Programme; a past member of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Board of Trustees; the past president of AGU's Hydrology Section; a member of four editorial boards and former editor of AGU's Water Resources Research; an emeritus member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Science Advisory Board; and a U.S. Member of the Hydrology Commission for the World Meteorological Organization. He has served on numerous advisory committees, including those of the National Research Council (NRC), NASA, NOAA, National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. He is currently serving as a member of the NRC’s Space Study Board. He has testified to both Senate and House sub-committees on earth observations from space and water resources issues.